In the Shadow of Saturn
Explanation:
In the shadow of Saturn, unexpected wonders appear.
The
robotic Cassini spacecraft now orbiting
Saturn drifted in giant planet's
shadow earlier this year and looked
back toward the
eclipsed Sun.
Cassini saw a unique and celebrated
view.
First, the
night side of Saturn
is seen to be partly lit by light reflected from its own
majestic ring system.
Next, Saturn's expansive ring system appears as
majestic as always even from this odd angle.
Ring particles, many glowing only as irregular crescents,
slightly scatter sunlight toward Cassini in this
natural color image.
Several
moons and ring features are also discernible.
Appearing quite prominently is Saturn's
E ring, the ring created by the unusual
ice-fountains of the moon
Enceladus and the outermost ring visible above.
To the upper left, far in the distance, are the planets Mars and Venus.
To the lower right, however, is perhaps the most wondrous spectacle of all:
the almost invisible, nearly ignorable,
pale blue dot
of Earth.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
